New calls for DWP to give older people on disability benefits early access to their State Pension
The State Pension age in the UK is set to begin its rise from 66 to 67 next year(Image: PixelsEffect via Getty Images)
A new online petition is calling on the Government to grant early access to the State Pension for older people receiving disability benefits. The current State Pension age stands at 66 for both men and women, but it’s slated to increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
The petition, created by George Bolgar, proposes that any person over 60 with a disability “who has been unemployed for at least five years should be given the choice to retire and claim the State Pension immediately”.
The ‘allow elderly disabled people to claim the State Pension early’ petition can be found on the Petitions Parliament website. If the petition garners 10,000 signatures, it would warrant a written response from the UK Government, and if it reaches 100,000, it would be considered for debate in Parliament by the Petitions Committee, reports the Daily Record.
An online petition is calling on the UK Government to change the State Pension payment rules.(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The petition reads: “We think that any disabled person aged 60 who has been unemployed for at least five years should be given the choice to retire and claim the State Pension immediately.
“We think that keeping people on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) unemployment list when there is no chance of them ever becoming employed again is extra work for the DWP and extra stress for the disabled person. We think that once someone is above 60 years old and unemployed their likelihood of being employable is extremely reduced.”
You can view the full petition online here.
State Pension age rise
The State Pension age in the UK is set to begin its rise from 66 to 67 next year, with the rise expected to be fully implemented for all men and women across the nation by 2028. This adjustment to the official retirement age has been legislated since 2014, with an additional increase from 67 to 68 planned to take effect between 2044 and 2046.
The Pensions Act 2014 expedited the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years. The UK Government also altered the phasing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 will be eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67.
It’s crucial to be cognisant of these impending changes now, particularly if you have a retirement plan in place. All those affected by alterations to their State Pension age will receive a letter from the DWP well in advance. Under the provisions of the Pensions Act 2007, the State Pension age for both men and women will rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
The Pensions Act 2014 mandates a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every five years. These reviews will be predicated on the notion that people should be able to spend a certain proportion of their adult life receiving a State Pension.
A review of the proposed increase to 68 is due before the end of this decade, initially scheduled by the previous Conservative government to occur two years post-general election – which would have been 2026.
The review of the State Pension age will consider life expectancy along with a variety of other factors pertinent to setting the State Pension age. Following the report from the review, the UK Government may decide to implement changes to the State Pension age. However, any such proposals would need to pass through Parliament before becoming law.
You can check your State Pension age online
Your State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can begin receiving your State Pension. It might differ from the age at which you can receive a workplace or personal pension. The online tool on GOV.UK allows people of all ages to check their State Pension age, which can be a crucial part of retirement planning.
You can use the State Pension age tool to check:
When you will reach State Pension ageYour Pension Credit qualifying ageWhen you will be eligible for free bus travel – this is at age 60 in Scotland
Check your State Pension age online here.
